Antares Au Claims P2 at WEC Barcelona! McLaren Mounts Epic Comeback from Puncture, Finishing Just 4.75s Shy of Victory

[BitAuto Local News] Hong Kong driver Antares Au has once again stepped onto an international motorsport podium! At the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Barcelona, Au joined forces with British driver Tom Fleming and German ace Marvin Kirchhöfer behind the wheel of Garage 59's #10 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo in the LMGT3 category, ultimately bringing the car home in P2. Despite setbacks from a puncture and an unscheduled pit stop, the squad mounted a sensational fightback to cross the finish line just 4.75 seconds behind the race winner.

Qualifying Pole Secured, Wet Start Marred by Multi-Car Pile-Up

This race served as the penultimate round of the 2026 WEC campaign. In qualifying, Tom Fleming clocked a blistering 1:40.933 lap time to edge out Porsche driver Riccardo Pera by 0.122 seconds, securing LMGT3 class pole position for the #10 McLaren.

The race got underway in tricky wet conditions, with Au taking the opening stint. While the #10 McLaren initially held onto the lead, Turn 1 saw an immediate chain-reaction pile-up involving cars from Lexus, Porsche, Ford Mustang, and Mercedes-AMG. Au expertly navigated through the carnage, but lost the lead to the #92 The Bend Manthey Porsche amidst the chaos.

Mid-Race Puncture Forces Unscheduled Stop, McLaren Sweeps Past BMW in Closing Stages

During the middle portion of the race, the #10 McLaren suffered contact with the #77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang, resulting in tyre damage that necessitated an unplanned pit visit and dealt a temporary blow to their victory bid.

Thereafter, Tom Fleming and Marvin Kirchhöfer took over driving duties in turn, steadily clawing back lost time. As the race entered its fourth hour, Daniel Harper in the #69 Team WRT BMW moved up into second place, but the McLaren kept applying relentless pressure from behind.

Heading into the race's final chapter, Kirchhöfer pulled off a decisive overtake on Harper to elevate the #10 McLaren back to second. At the chequered flag, the #92 Porsche clinched the LMGT3 class victory by a narrow 4.75-second margin, with the #10 McLaren securing runner-up honours and the #69 BMW rounding out the podium in third.

Another Stellar Milestone in Antares Au's WEC Campaign

For Antares Au, this P2 finish at Barcelona represents another crucial milestone in his 2026 WEC campaign. Having weathered a wet start, opening-corner drama, and an unexpected puncture, the team's ability to battle back onto the podium showcased exceptional resilience and tactical composure from both drivers and crew.

Au previously clinched the Asian Le Mans Series GT3 championship before embarking on his first full-season WEC assault in 2026. This year, Garage 59's #10 McLaren has already secured pole position at Imola and scored a memorable class victory at Spa-Francorchamps. Adding this Barcelona runner-up finish to their tally, the outfit continues to assert itself as a formidable force in the LMGT3 class.

LMGT3 Title Fight Heads Down to the Wire at Monza

Following the Barcelona round, the LMGT3 Drivers' and Teams' Championship battles remain wide open. The #92 The Bend Manthey Porsche's triumph marked their maiden win of the season, extending the remarkable streak of seven different winners across the opening seven rounds—a testament to the cut-throat competition across the field.

The WEC season finale will take place from 6 to 8 November at the iconic Monza Circuit in Italy. With the championship decider looming, teams will leave everything on the track in pursuit of maximum points. Whether Antares Au and Garage 59 can wrap up the year on another high will undoubtedly keep Hong Kong motorsport fans on the edge of their seats.

Source: FIA WEC Official Report

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